Russian troops at the Tartus Naval Base, Russia’s only Mediterranean base, and forces at the Hemeimeem airbase in Latakia will not be effected by the move, which Putin expects to give a boost to the peace talks in Geneva.

Russian officials aimed to save the Assad government, at the time suffering mounting losses, with their intervention, and appear to have succeeded, at least for now, as the government regained considerable territory. They also wanted to back the rebels away from the Tartus base on the coast.

Russia’s ultimate goal, however, was not an outright military victory for Assad in the civil war, but a brokered settlement which would resolve the rebellion with constitutional reform, while still maintaining Syria as an historic Russian ally. While there is much work to be done in the peace talks toward actually ending the war, Russia seems to be pushing Assad to the negotiating table by insisting that they’re not going to keep backing offensives.

Author: Jason Ditz

Putin is smart. It’s like he moved his queen in and grabbed a knight and a bishop and now is pulling it back to where it is safe. But, the game is all but won and he now only needs to play his end game correctly as a man of peace.

Pay attention Uncle Sam. This is how a non-interventionist wins a war. Bravo, Putin, bravo.

Boston Poverty Law

and I thought my God the genius of that
the genius
the will to do that

–Kurtz, Apocalypse Now

EME

peace talks toward actually ending the war…

This is good news for the people of Syria, and the entire
Near East already suffering from the idiot Bush’s 2003
invasion of Iraq based on outright lies and subterfuge.

Bad news for the crooks and war profiteers in the corrupt
Pentagon who looted the USG taxpayers out of trillions
of dollars on perpetual war and destruction.

John Ellis

I would agree with Anthropologist, for why should Russia give up on it’s military solution and leave a power vacuum?

aaaaa

Everybody is praising Putin..AFAIK he cut a deal with the west, and has betrayed Iran, Hezbollah and maybe even Assad.
Putin is not a saint! He’s the head of a neoliberal republic and has shown in the past that he will mercilessly promote Russia’s interests, even if that means betraying countries that Russia can depend on

marc

Putin, unlike western leaders, knows there are limits to what military power can accomplish. Russia achieved their limited goals and will leave on their own account. Contrast this with the never ending, and never winning, commitments of the US and its feckless allies.